News

Moscow Synod calls unification assembly in Kiev non-canonical, expresses concerns about plans to rename Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Moscow, December 29, Interfax - The Holy Synod that met in Moscow on Friday gave its evaluation to the unification assembly held in Kiev and the Ukrainian authorities' actions aimed at renaming the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

"The 'Unification Assembly' held in Kiev on December 15 composed of members of schismatic groups led by Metropolitan Emmanuel of Galle, a representative of the Constantinople Patriarchate, and Ukrainian President Pyotr Poroshenko was declared non-canonical," the Synod said in its decisions.

The hierarchs of the Russian church also expressed "deep concerns" about the entry into force of the amendments to the Ukrainian law On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations.

The Moscow Synod decision calls these amendments discriminatory. It also states that secular politicians intend to seek deprivation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of its canonical and lawful name based on the adopted law. Members of the Synod see "this legislative act as a glaring violation of the principle of non-interference of the state in the internal affairs of religious communities outlined in the Constitution of Ukraine."

The law contradicts the fundamental international documents on the protection of human rights and freedoms, the decision said.

The Synod has made a decision to call on the heads and Synods of the brotherly Orthodox Churches to support Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev and All Ukraine, the bishops, the clergy, and monastics and loyal flock of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church "in connection with the current trials," and also not to recognize "the community founded at the so-called Unification Assembly on December 15, 2018 in Kiev as an autocephalous local Orthodox church."

Print this page

Home

News

.	Customize latest news

• Urals Economics University not to expel student over contacts with LGBT 19 September 2019, 18:18
• Kadyrov ready for dialogue with PACE rep on rights of LGBT persons in Chechnya, although finds problem far-fetched 19 September 2019, 18:13
• High-ranking Culture Ministry official charged with misappropriating money provided for restoration of Solovki objects 19 September 2019, 18:12
• Russian Orthodox Church initiates probe into possible infringement of rights of people prosecuted after Moscow summer riots 18 September 2019, 20:36
• Priests' letter in support of protesters is political declaration - Russian Orthodox Church 18 September 2019, 20:05
• Seventeen clandestine ISIL cells uncovered in Russia in 2019 17 September 2019, 18:06
• Putin says he sees Israel as Russian-speaking country 17 September 2019, 18:04
• Parishioners of the "Russian exarchate" in Paris enthusiastic about joining the Russian Orthodox Church 16 September 2019, 17:45
• Return of 'Russian exarchate' became possible due to radical changes in Russian Church, Russia in general - Patriarch Kirill 16 September 2019, 16:26
• Russian Orthodox Church denies rumors that head of Russian Church Abroad is missing 16 September 2019, 16:25
• Israel condemns defacing of monument to Holocaust victims in Ukraine's Nikolaev Region, demands perpetrators be punished 16 September 2019, 13:20
• The Russian Church about return of “Russian exarchate” parishes under its jurisdiction: a long way is almost accomplished 14 September 2019, 21:29
• Head of "Russian exarchate" of Constantinople joins Russian Orthodox Church 14 September 2019, 18:44
• Imam Velitov, convicted for justification of terrorism, leaves colony in Astrakhan 13 September 2019, 16:52
• Ukrainian court freezes "Kiev Patriarchate" liquidation 12 September 2019, 20:25
• Priest Alexander Volkov dismissed from the post of patriarchal press secretary 12 September 2019, 20:22
• Orthodox Businessman Malofeyev to leave A Just Russia 6 months after joining it 12 September 2019, 17:23
• Common moral, ethical values of all religions in Russia ensure state stability of country - Putin 12 September 2019, 17:21
• Guilt of men charged with attempted murder of Imam Chumakov unproven - Ingushetia jury 11 September 2019, 10:53
• State Dept. announces sanctions against 2 high-ranking Surgut investigators over Jehovah's Witnesses case (updated) 10 September 2019, 18:48
• The Russian Church official call modern Russian men a "national tragedy" 09 September 2019, 11:56
• The Russian Church will accept communities of the "Russian exarchate" ready to join it 09 September 2019, 11:20
• Russian Orthodox Church to continue reunification consultations with "Russian exarchate" 09 September 2019, 11:00
• Russian Jews to unveil monument to Roma victims of Nazism 05 September 2019, 16:00
• Jerusalem Patriarch takes the side of Russian Church in the "Ukrainian question" 05 September 2019, 15:57
• Constantinople appoints head of "Russian exarchate" a metropolitan responsible for establishing new church in Ukraine 05 September 2019, 13:06
• "Russian exarchate" in Europe refused to subordinate to Constantinople 04 September 2019, 10:54
• Some 40,000 Hasidic pilgrims expected to attend Rosh Hashanah celebration in Ukraine 03 September 2019, 11:07
• ROC metropolitan denies Constantinople accusations of non-canonical actions of the Moscow Patriarchate in Southeast Asia 29 August 2019, 15:43
• World Union of Old Believers set up in Moscow 29 August 2019, 13:05

Other news